Quirky British history: The oldest Crimean War veteran

When did last survivor of the Crimean War died? In 2004. The last veteran  of the Crimean War (1853–1856) was Timothy, a Mediterranean spur-thighed  tortoise. He was thought to be approximately 160 years old at the time of his death, and the UK's oldest resident.

Timothy was found aboard a Portuguese privateer in 1854 by Captain John Courtenay Everard of the Royal Navy and served as a mascot on a series of Navy vessels until 1892, including service as ship's mascot of HMS Queen  during the first bombardment of Sebastopol in the Crimean War.

He then retired to Powderham Castle, where he was taken in by Everard's relative, the tenth Earl of Devon.  Timothy had a Devon's family motto - "Where have I fallen? What have I done?" - inscribed on his underside.